Does Upper Eyelid Surgery Leave a Scar?

Upper eyelid surgery (upper blepharoplasty) is a common eyelid procedure. It helps the eyes look more rested and youthful and removes extra skin that can narrow the visual field.

What Is Upper Eyelid Surgery (Upper Blepharoplasty)?

Upper eyelid surgery treats problems such as:

• Excess skin
• Looseness and sagging
• Fine wrinkles
• In some cases, extra muscle or fat tissue

The goal is to keep the natural shape of the eyes while giving a fresher, brighter and more youthful look.

For many patients, the surgeon usually:

• Uses local anaesthesia,
• Finishes the operation in about 30–60 minutes,
• Sends the patient home on the same day.

Where Do Surgeons Place the Incision and Why Can the Scar Become So Discreet?

One of the main advantages of upper eyelid surgery is the way the surgeon can hide the cut.

• The surgeon places the incision directly in the natural crease of the upper eyelid.
• This crease is the fold you see when you open and close your eyes.
• Because the scar sits in this natural fold, most people do not notice it when the eyes are open or closed in daily life.

In the first weeks, the scar may look pink or slightly red. As the months pass, it usually blends with the skin tone and many people can only see it on close inspection and from a short distance.

How Long Does It Take for the Scar to Fade?

The healing timeline is not exactly the same for everyone, but a simple overview looks like this:

• First 1–2 weeks:
  • You may see redness, mild bruising and swelling.
  • The surgeon usually removes the stitches around days 5–7.
  • During this early period, the scar looks more visible and appears as a red line.
• Around 1 month:
  • Most of the bruising has cleared.
  • Swelling has gone down a lot.
  • The scar may still look slightly pink or red, but you can usually cover it easily with makeup.
• 4–5 months:
  • The colour of the scar becomes lighter and it looks more discreet.
  • From a normal distance, most people do not notice the scar anymore.
• 6–12 months:
  • The scar keeps healing and softening.
  • Many patients see that the line becomes thinner and lighter for up to a year.
  • The final look of the scar usually settles within this period.

Before-and-after photos often show how well the incision hides inside the natural eyelid crease and how much the scar fades after a few months. Even so, every person heals at their own pace.

Why Can’t the Scar Disappear Completely?

Any time a surgeon cuts the skin and closes it with stitches, a scar forms. The idea of a “scarless operation” is not realistic from a medical point of view.

What really matters is:

• Where the scar sits,
• How thin and pale it becomes over time,
• How well the patient’s skin heals.

Because surgeons place the incision in the natural upper eyelid crease, upper blepharoplasty is one of the most favourable operations from a scarring point of view.

Which Factors Affect the Scar?

Several points can change how visible the scar looks:

• Skin type and genetics:
  Some people have thinner and fairer skin that hides scars more easily, while others tend to form darker scars.
• Age:
  As the skin gets thinner with age, scars can blend in better for some patients.
• Smoking:
  Smoking reduces blood flow and can slow down healing.
• Sun exposure:
  Strong sun in the early months can darken scars. Protecting the eye area from the sun is very important.
• Post-operative care and following advice:
  Cleaning the area properly and using the creams or ointments your surgeon recommends can support better scar quality.

How Should You Protect the Scar After Surgery?

To support better healing of the scar, you can:

• Use cold compresses and other care methods your surgeon suggests,
• Avoid rubbing or pulling the eyelids in the first weeks,
• Start using the recommended creams once your surgeon says it is safe,
• Protect the eye area from the sun, wear sunglasses and use sunscreen if advised,
• Cut down on smoking or stop if you can.

These simple steps can help the scar heal in a thinner and softer way. Still, results always stay personal and depend on your own skin and healing capacity.

Is Upper Eyelid Surgery Only a Cosmetic Procedure?

Many people choose upper eyelid surgery for cosmetic reasons. However, the procedure may also improve daily comfort and vision in some patients:

• Extra skin can hang over the lashes and narrow the visual field.
• The heaviness on the upper part of the face can cause tiredness and headaches.
• After surgery, patients often notice a more open, rested look and, in some cases, a wider field of vision.

For this reason, upper eyelid surgery is not only a cosmetic operation. In many cases it also offers functional benefits.